May 20 – Boulder, Steve & Susan Arrive, and the Park

David enjoying Bear Lake

A Mountain Bluebird enjoying the beautiful spring

King Elk

         Sitting this morning on our deck overlooking the Fall River only steps away was a spiritual moment for sure. The running water signifying continuity of life, aspen trees lining the banks beginning to sprout tiny leaves that will last for a season, the sun slipping past the confines of the surrounding mountains, and the fresh clean air filled my heart, mind, and soul with a huge slug of serenity. Listening carefully I began to hear several species of birds, wind rustling in the trees, and with my eyes two young joggers, and with my nose a fresh pine scent. Beginning around age eight, no wonder I have been drawn to these mountains nearly all of my life, and no wonder why I want my ashes spread two and a half miles up the mountain path to and in The Loch, the most beautiful lake in the whole wide world.

        While I sit there contemplating life and death Debbie is, as usual, working hard on her grant and still another peer-review article. Our mutual endeavors completed, we head for Boulder; there Debbie to meet and have lunch with Denise, her best friend who now lives in Denver, and me, well, I am typing this entry -- I had planned to meet with my good friend and confidant Bob Siebel, but alas, he got tied up in New Mexico and couldn't keep our luncheon date. Downtown Boulder (The Pearl Street Mall Area) was delightful, but this time, as compared to previous visits we encountered many young homeless teenagers walking the streets and obviously high on cannabis (marijuana) now legal in Colorado. Before passing judgment I am reminded to attend the Fall River Group of AA in Estes Park one or more times during this week.

        We return to Estes the same way we ventured – Hwy 7 to Lyons (the preferred route due to repairs on 36 to Lyons) and then 36 to Boulder; total time each way was about an hour and fifteen minutes. It is a beautiful route passing through a couple of canyons and along the front-range the last 15 miles. Along the way we hear from Steve and Susan who are not that far behind us. Due to graduation festivities (the most important of which was robing son Alex as he walked onto the stage) they left Columbia a day later than us, enjoyed lunch with their dear friend Scott Buckley in Boulder and were now less than an hour from Estes Park.

Beautiful Bear Lake

         Leaving little time for them to catch their breath we hop in the car and I retrace our route through the national park to Bear Lake. And like the previous evening, we find Elk and deer ubiquitous, wild turkeys too. We stop along the road for photos; special, however, was the spotting of a mountain blue bird by Susan. Perched on a fence post, Steve and Debbie take multiple pictures of the cute little thing. It was like finding a gem in a haystack. At the lake all of us get out our hiking poles (except for Debbie) and begin trekking atop four-feet of snow beneath a snow-packed trail to water and ice surrounded by deep snow at every turn. Steve slipped off the trail and buried his foot into the snow filling his shoe. We take plenty of pictures before heading back down the mountain.

David and Susan chat in the snow

         Starved we make our way to Mama Rosa’s on the downtown river walk and have our fill of pasta, fellowship, and fun. Debbie, bragging about reaching her one million steps in 120 days, is motivated to earn more on this day; 10,000 a day being her goal, she and Steve head down the river path while Susan and I begin to retire after a long day. In spite of a slight chance of rain in the morning, and scattered showers in the afternoon, we stay optimistic about the weather.